Running with the 95 Bulls in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Brooklyn-Queens-based five-piece 95 Bulls, led by vocalist Emily Ashenden, tore through a grimy collision of garage punk, post-punk and synth-wave in Tompkins Square Park yesterday afternoon as part of a free Show Brain lineup. 

Here are a few scenes from their fiery set...

Show Brain brings more live music to Tompkins Square Park TODAY

Show Brain returns to Tompkins Square Park today for another afternoon (2-6)  of FREE live music.

Singer-songwriter Sid Simons headlines with: 

• 95 Bulls 

• Dauber 

• Joudy

• Gold Roger

A special pop up in Tompkins Square Park yesterday

Photos by Stacie Joy 

To celebrate the release of their 13th studio album, There Near (released yesterday), Dinosaur Jr. have been playing a series of smaller venues and pop-up shows around the city. 

After a Thursday evening appearance at Lucinda's on Avenue A, the trio turned up in Tompkins Square Park yesterday afternoon for a free surprise show presented by Show Brain and Fender. 

The concert was first announced on Instagram around 10 a.m. 

Despite some later rumors that it wasn’t going to happen, J Mascis, Murph and Lou Barlow took their places (no stage!) and delivered a short, tight set.

The band will move on to larger venues for its 2027 tour. 

And now, J Mascis and friends, as they were announced...

After the set, Mascis quickly left Tompkins... but we did find a happy Lou Barlow and longtime drummer Murph...

Sunday afternoon with the booyah! kids in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This past weekend saw the free two-day Show Brain Festival in Tompkins Square Park, featuring a lineup of 10 emerging bands. 

Here, we're focusing on the booyah! kids, a trio of NYC natives featuring Emma Lee...

...Aidan Ludlam...

... and Julian Kaufman...

The three take turns on lead vocals, with an intimate, DIY sound that pairs indie-pop sensibilities with lounge-y synth textures. (Their music has been described as "bedroom pop.") 

The band formed in 2018 and continued while the three attended college in different states. They have since released a full-length LP and several EPs, with a set of covers coming next. (A highlight Sunday was their take on Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" — the first time they played it live.) 

Between songs, Emma, an East Village native, talked about making another memory in Tompkins Square Park on this day. She recalled spending a lot of time there growing up — swimming in the mini pool with her brother and grabbing a slice at Nino's (RIP) on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place. She also gave shout-outs to her old East Village schools, the Neighborhood School and Tompkins Square Middle School.

You have a chance to catch the booyah! kids when they headline Night Club 101 on Avenue A on Sept. 26 as part of a five-city tour.

And a few faces in the crowd from their set ...

Show Brain Fest returns to Tompkins Square Park this weekend

Show Brain's fourth annual two-day indie music festival is back this weekend in Tompkins Square Park. 

Here's the lineup for the free Show Brain Fest... 

Aug. 8/Saturday

• Loose Buttons 

• Garret Elias 

• Improvement Movement 

• ISTA 

• Bonny

Aug. 9/Sunday

• Dogpark 

• The Booyah! Kids 

• Shilpa Ray 

• Alex Orange Drink 

• Mary Shelley 

Per the organizers: "Show Brain Fest is a weekend built by artists, fans, volunteers, and everyone who believes people should be able to access live music."

As always, these shows are a budget-friendly way to see some local touring bands ...

Pippy and Star's Revenge at Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

This past Saturday afternoon's free Show Brain gathering in Tompkins Square Park featured a five-band bill, including Bonny, T!LT and Dallas Wax. 

We caught Pippy and the closing set from Star's Revenge, a project featuring Olive Faber (Sunflower Bean) and Emily Green (Geese). 

First up, the Brooklyn indie quartet Pippy, who recently released their excellent self-titled debut record ...

... and Star's Revenge...

Emily Green

Olive Faber

... and the full band with Show Brain founder Ozzie (in the shades) ...

... and in the crowd...

5 bands on tap for tomorrow's free Show Brain show in Tompkins Square Park

Five bands are on tomorrow's bill for the latest free Show Brain concert in Tompkins Square Park, closing out with Star's Revenge. 

Approximate set times: 

• 1:55 to 2:25 Bonny 

• 2:45 to 3:20 T!LT 

• 3:40 to 4:15 Pippy 

• 4:35 to 5:10 Dallas Wax

• 5:25 to 6:00 Star's Revenge

First president of japan caps Show Brain show with a joyous set in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

If you like your Sunday afternoon concerts fun and unpredictable, first president of japan delivered.

The Brooklyn punk band headlined Sunday's free Show Brain concert in Tompkins Square Park, capping the afternoon with a joyous, high-energy set that blurred the line between performance and audience participation.

Lead vocalist Non Kuramoto (also a comedian and actress by trade) spent much of the set in the crowd — crowd-surfing, dancing and encouraging fans to join the fun as the audience eagerly obliged.

The band's sound blends punk, garage rock and math rock with a healthy dose of absurdity. (Their latest EP, Your Recommended Daily Intake of first president of japan, includes songs featuring humor, heart... and whale facts.) 

And faces in the crowd on this Sunday...